Ancient Encampment

Numerous narratives and records from explorers since the 1590s' have documented the coastal area above the 48th latitude as being inhabited by great numbers of people... (Pp.2-4)
"The earliest known record of human beings inhabiting Surrey comes from a burial cairn, unearthed at Blackie Spit, today's Crescent Beach, in 1946. It contained a well preserved skeleton of a chief who died shortly before the birth of Christ.
Another very ancient development was the entrenched Indian Fort, located on the crest of the bluff about one quarter of a mile north of the line of the North Bluff Road. It commanded an extensive view of the waters of Mud Bay, a part of Semiahmoo Bay and also of Point Roberts. It was excellently situated for defence, facing the open water on west with a sheer bluff practically to the waters edge. North and south it was defended with a deep ravine on each side, running inland for a considerable distance. From the termination of the ravines a deep ditch connecting them was excavated. The earth so moved formed a high bank or breastwork, the entrance being towards the south side of the structure, and enclosing possibly about a half acre of ground. The surface of the enclosure appeared to be quite level.
This encampment has now become part of a housing development and the ramparts that once protected the early inhabitants against their marauding enemies has been reduced to just another building lot. Many old timers have expressed regret that this fort was not put under the 'Historic Objects Preservation Act' in time to ensure preservation.
Another early encampment was the Semiahmoo Spit and the natives living there were probably the first to come in contact with the white man.
They also were the first traders in these parts as much of the goods they obtained from the early ships found its way to the Interior tribes. Simon Fraser reported that he saw articles of European manufacture at almost all the villages he visited along his route down the Fraser River.
Blackie Spit, today's Crescent Beach was also a very early encampment. It is believed to have been a narrow strip of land reaching from the mouth of Nicomekl River to the present day beach and offered excellent defence against the marauders from the North.
A cave containing several skeletons was discovered by some early settlers in the hillside where the Great Northern Railway from the south enters Crescent Beach. No written record of this cave has been found but in the opinion of old timers, it was very old.
Old timers also report seeing skeletons hanging in the trees at Blackie Spit verifying the belief that the Indians in these parts, in common with most of the North American Indians, practiced Tree Burial.
Old timers also tell of several burial huts remaining in the Mud Bay area at the time of the arrival of the first settlers."
Source: Land of the Peace Arch by John Pearson Surrey Centennial
Committee, 1958
(A copy of this book was presented to Brenda Samuels (now Davidson) by Mayor William Vander Zalm, and loaned to the Ocean Parker volunteers for research.)